Apparatus for filling fruit and vegetable cans



(No Model.)

J. B. BAKER. Apparatus for Filling vFruit and Vegetable Cans.

Patented `April a2, 188|.

No. 240,072P

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Invenor Wz'zness es:

N.PETER3 vHoTD-UTMOGRAPHaa. WASHINGTON. Dv C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEs B. BAKER, 0E ABERDEEN, MARYLAND.

APPARATUS FOR FILLING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,072, dated April12, 1881. Application led March 5, 1881. (No modeLl To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. BAKER@ citizen of the United States,residing at Aberdeen, in the county of Harford and State of Maryland,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forFilling Fruit and Vegetable Cans; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for lling fruit and vegetable cans,and is designed for the use of those who put up large quantities, as inpacking-houses, the object being to lessen the labor of filling thecans.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a top view of the apparatus.Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a viewillustrating the removal of the frame after tilling the cans. The letterA designates the cans to be filled, of which any convenient number maybetaken at one time-say one hundred, though in the present instance butone dozen are shown. The cans are placed in position in regular straightrows, as shown, with the openrmouth end uppermost.

A rectangular frame, B, has three sides, c, of the same character fromthe upper to the lower edge. One side of the frame, however, consists ofonly a narrow strip, d, which conneots the two opposite sides o at theirupper edges. In a vertical direction this strip is ot' a width barelysufficient to reach below the top edge of the cans, as seen in Fig. 2.Instead of only one side having a narrow strip, two opposite sides maybe thus provided. lt will be understood the frame has neither top norbottom.

The letter E designates a tray or plate, preferably of sheet metal,which fits snugly within the four sides of the rectangular frame and-rests upon the tops of the cans inclosed by the frame. This plate isprovided with round holes f, arranged in straight rows equidistant fromeach other, and so as to coincide with the open mouths of the cans, theholes in the plate and the mouths of the cans being about the same size.This plate may have ianges or upward-extending sides g, in the form of atray, or may be a mere sheet without the sides.

The apparatus is employed in the following manner: Cans to a numbercorresponding to the holes in the plate, being placed on the table, aresurrounded by the frame,which serves to hold the cans in the necessaryclose and regular position, and the plate is placed upon the top of thecans. As each hole in the plate is immediately over the mouth of thecan, it will be seen the fruit or vegetables which may be turned outupon the plate will readily pass through the holes into the cans; landby the aid of a paddle the fruit or vegetables may be brushed or movedabout on the plate until all the cans are filled. The operation is avery expeditious one. The plate is now removed, and the side of theframe having the narrow strip d is raised until the lower edge of saidstrip clears the top of the cans, as shown in Fig. 3, when the frame maybe removed by sliding it to one side.

This apparatus is especially designed for filling corn into cans; but itmay be used for pease and small fruits, such as gooseberries, Src.

Instead of a separate frame to confine the cans in regular position, theplate may itself be provided around its edge with a ange projectingdownward, which will surround the cans at their upper ends and serve thesame purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent ofthe United States- In a devicetfor filling cans, thecombination of a plate provided with holes arranged regularly andadapted to coincide with the open mouths of' cans, and a framesubstantially as described to surround the cans, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. BAKER. lVitnesses: OHAs. B. MANN,

JNO. T. MADDOX.

